Kenyan envoy desires collaboration among universities

Our correspondent

LAHORE : High Commissioner of Kenya Prof Julius Kibet Bitok desired collaboration between University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore and the Kenyan universities and research organisations in the livestock and other related sectors.

According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, the Kenyan high commissioner led a delegation comprising Commercial Counsellor Kenya Embassy in Islamabad Filimona Wambulwa, Kenyan Consulate, Lahore, Manager Administration Lt-Col (R) Ameer Abdullah and Executive Office Manager Raees Alam to the UVAS’s, Ravi Campus, Pattoki and held a meeting with Vice-Chancellor Meritorious Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha and discussed possibilities of collaboration. They identified the areas of collaboration including research especially in livestock, exchange of students and faculty for studies, training and joint research.

Earlier, the VC briefed the Kenyan delegation on the UVAS academic, research, extension and dairy advisory services, clinical and disease diagnostic facilities, development projects, vaccine production, training programmes, national and international linkages, etc.

He informed the delegation about the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences ranking among the top universities in Times Higher Education and QS World Top University Rankings. He said that the university was helping the industry in food and feed analysis, quality control and disease diagnosis.

Later, the Kenyan delegation visited various departments of Ravi Campus, including Central Laboratory Complex (CLC), Milk Plant, Pet Breeding and Training Centre, Ostrich and Indigenous Poultry Farm, Dairy Animal Training and Research Centre, Sheep and Goat Research Centre, Poultry Broiler Farm, clinics and Buffalo Research Institute.

The Kenyan high commissioner appreciated the UVAS's state-of-the-art disease diagnostic facilities/laboratories, academic and research facilities, dairy training and clinical services for the benefit of the farming community and industry. He said that Pakistan and Kenya had close relations and Kenya wanted to further promote the ties in all sectors, especially livestock, research and education.

He said that he wanted to see Kenya and Pakistan exchange faculty and students for studies, training and research and get benefit from each other’s expertise. The VC said that University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences would welcome Kenyan students for studies, training and research.

He said that the university had already collaboration with another African country, Gambia, and a student from Gambia was pursuing his PhD at the Ravi Campus. The Kenyan High Commissioner also planted a sapling at the Ravi Campus.